Orthodontic appliance



SGP- 2, 1959 |:.s|LvERMAN ETAL 3,464,112

ORTHODONTIC 'APPLIANCE Filed June 30, 1967 United States Patent O 3,464,112 ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE Elliott Silverman, 4829 Atlantic Ave., Ventnor, NJ. 08406, and Morton Cohen, Medical Arts Bldg., Jenkintown, Pa. 19046 Continuation-impart of applications Ser. No. 520,383, Jan. 13, 1966, Ser. No. 551,022, May 18, 1966, and Ser. No. 569,967, Aug. 3, 1966. This application June 30, 1967, Ser. No. 650,527

Int. Cl. A61c 7/ 00 U.S. Cl. 32--14 8 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This invention is concerned essentially with the provision of a unique bracket for attachment to the labial side of a tooth, wherein a receiver projects outwardly from the bracket and is provided with a laterally extending thru opening for receiving a wire, and a passageway extendmg outwardly from the opening for passing a wire sideways into and out of the opening. Resilient detent means pro jecting into the passageway for releasably retaining a received wire in the opening.

Cross-references to related applications This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending patent applications Ser. No. 520,383, filed Jan. 13, 1966; Ser. No. 551,022, filed Mayv 18, 1966 and now Patent No. 3,421,221; and Ser. No. 569,967 led Aug. 3, 1966.

Summary It is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved orthodontic appliance in the nature of a bracket for attachment to a paticnts teeth, wherein arch wires, either edgewise or light wire are adapted to be quickly and easily snapped into position within the bracket, and with equal facility snapped out of the bracket, to eifect substantial savings in time and effort for the orthodontist, and minimize discomfort to the patient.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved orthodontic bracket of the type described, which is adapted for use with a unique receptacle, the bracket being interchangeable with respect to the receptacle, without removing the latter from the tooth, to greatly facilitate variations in treatment techniques, and permit of combination techniques heretofore impossible.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an orthodontic appliance having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, which effectively eliminates or minimizes the use of tie wires or ligatures, virtually eliminates breakage of appliances, and greatly improves the esthetic appearance of orthodontic appliances in use.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specication and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplilied in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawing FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view, illustrating a receptacle and bracket of the present invention in eX- ploded or spaced-apart relation.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational View of the bracket 3,464,112 Patented Sept. 2, 1969 ICC and receptacle of FIGURE 1 in their operative association, having a light wire associated therewith.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevational View taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a front perspective view illustrating another embodiment of bracket constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view showing the bracket of FIGURE 5 in operative association with a receptacle and edgewise wire.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and speciiically to FIGURES 1-4 thereof, a receptacle is therel generally designated 10, for attachment to a patients tooth, and a bracket is generally designated 11, for removable and replaceable insertion into and withdrawal from the receptacle.

The receptacle 10 is adapted for attachment to a patients tooth (not shown) by any suitable means, such as a band 12, adhesive, or the like. The receptacle may advantageously be formed of sheet metal, say including a substantially flat, generally rectangular back wall or base 15 having forwardly outstanding, generally vertically extending side walls 16 along its side edges. The side walls 16 may each be provided with an inturned retaining lip or ange 17, except at the upper side-wall region, which may be cut away, as at 18. Thus, the retaining flanges 17 are in forwardly spaced, overlying relation with respect to adjacent portions of base 15, being generally coplanar with each other. Along the lower or gingival edge of base 15 there may be provided a forwardly outstanding lower wall 20, having at its forward edge an upstanding lip or retaining iiange 21 substantially coplanar with the retaining flanges 17. The lower wall 20 and its liange 21 may be medially cut away, as at 22, and may terminate short of the side walls 16 and anges 17, as at 23. Along the upper or occlusal edge of the base 15 there may be provided a forwardly projecting upper wall or stop 24 spaced medially between the side walls 16 and having a medial cutout 25, generally opposite to and in alignment with the lower cutout 22, for a purpose appearing presently.

The bracket 11 may advantageously be integrally fabricated of suitably resiliently dellectable material, such as molded of plastic, or the like, and is configured to include a generally at, substantially rectangular plate 30, and a receiver 31 projecting forwardly from the plate 30. The receiver 31 may assume the form of a forwardly projecting lug substantially vertically coextensive with the plate 30, and of a lateral dimension less than the plate. Along the occlusal edge 32 of the plate 30, the upper edge as seen in the drawings, there may be formed a generally triangular rigidifying structure 33 projecting forwardly from the upper plate region and laterally outwardly from the upper region of receiver 31, to buttress the latter. Also, additional reinforcement portions 34 may be formed on the plate 30, on opposite sides of and along the inner regions of the receiver.

The receiver or lug formation 31 has its occlusal and gingival ends smoothly rounded, as at 35 and 36, merging smoothly into a generally flat forward surface 37. Extending laterally, entirely through the receiver or lug formation 31 is an opening 38, illustrated as of generally rectangular formation. A passageway 39 extends forwardly and rearwardly between the opening 38 and through the front receiver surface' 37. Further, the pas# sageway 39 is coextensive with the opening 38 in the lateral direction, so as to open through opposite sides of the lug structure 31; and, the passageway 39 is of a vertical dimension less than that of the opening 38, and has its upper, internal surface substantially ush with the upper internal surface of the opening 3S.

It will therefore be appreciated that the opening 38 and passageway 39 combine to subdivide the receiver or lug structure 31 into a pair of vertically spaced occlusal and gingival arms, respectively designated 40 and 41. The arms 40 and 41 are spaced apart by the opening 38 and passageway 39. Further, the reduced dimension of the passageway 39 serves to define on the gingival arms 41 a protuberance 42, which may be considered as projecting into the space between the arms 40 and 41. As the receiver 31, and the entire bracket 11, are advantageously formed of resiliently deiiectable material, the arms 40 and 41 may be moved slightly apart, to enlarge the vertical dimension of passageway 39, for a purpose appearing presently.

The plate 30 is advantageously formed with a generally vertically extending passageway, as by a groove 43 on its inner surface opening at its opposite ends through the gingival and occlusal edges of the plate.

In use, the plate 30 of bracket 11 may be assembled with the receptacle by engagement of the gingival edge corners beneath respective flanges 17 and movement of the plate 30 toward the gingival flanges 21 for engagement therebeneath. In this operation, the plate 30 rides over the stop 24, snapping therebeyond into facing engagement with the receptacle base and retained therein by the stop 24, as best seen in FIGURES 2-4. While the bracket 11 is effectively retained in this condition within the receptacle 10, its removal may be accomplished by reversal of the above-described operation, preferably employing a pliers or suitable tool for manipulation of the bracket.

With the bracket 11 assembled in the receptacle 10, on the tooth of a patient, a wire, such as a light wire 45 may be snap-engaged by sidewise movement through the passageway 39 into the opening 38. That is, the arms 40 and 41 are resiliently deflected sufficiently to pass the wire 4S beyond the protuberance 42 and into the opening 38, where the wire is loosely received, permitting resilient return of the arms to their normal, undistended condition. In this condition, the protuberance 42 effectively closes the passageway 39 to a dimension sufiicently small to retain the wire in the opening 38.

Removal of the wire 45 may be effected by the reversal of the above-described procedure, employing a spreading tool for the arms 4t) and 41, if desired, or a grasping tool to hold and move the wire.

We have found surprisingly enough that the bracket of this invention permits in many instances the use of wire, such as a light wire 45, without ligatures. This is due' to the tight fit between the wire 45 and the protuberances 42. The elimination of ligatures not only saves a considerable amount of the orthodontists time but also removes unsightly wire from the patients mouth.

With the bracket 11 in the receptacle 10, it will be apparent that the bracket-plate passageway 43 aligns or registers with the receptacle cutouts 22 and 25, to define a thru vertically extending opening. This opening may be employed for insertion therethrough of an uprightng tool, or for other purpose, as desired.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGURES 5-7, in FIGURE 5 is shown a slightly modified bracket 11a particularly adapted for use with the edgewise orthodontic technique. The bracket 11a may be employed with the same receptacle 10 as described in connection with FIG- URES 1-4. Further, the bracket 11a for edgewise technique is inserted into and removed from the receptacle 10 in the same manner as described hereinbefore.

The bracket 11a may include a generally rectangular plate a provided on its forward or labial side with a forwardly projecting receiver or lug structure 31a. If desired, a reinforcement or gusset structure 33a may extend from the plate 30a to the receiver 31a, similar to the reinforcement 33. Also, the plate 30a may be provided on its inner side, adjacent to an associated tooth, with a vertically extending open-ended passageway or groove 43a, corresponding to the passageway 43.

The receiver or lug structure* 31a may be substantially vertically coextensive with the plate 30a, and may be of a selected width, usually less than the lateral extent of the plate. As in the first-described embodiment, the plate 30a, receiver 31a and reinforcement 33a may all be advantageously integrally fabricated of suitably resiliently deflectable material, such as by molding of plastic, or otherwise.

The lug structure or receiver 31a is formed with a laterally extending opening 38a, which opens at its opposite ends through opposite sides of the receiver, and is advantageously of a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration, conforming essentially to that of an edgewse wireI 45a. Further, the receiver or lug structure 31a is formed with a passageway 39a extending forwardly and rearwardly between the opening 38a and through the forward surface of the receiver. The passageway 39a is of a vertical dimension less than that of the opening 38u, and is laterally coextensive with the opening 38a, so as to open throughopposite sides of the receiver.

It will therefore bel appreciated that the opening 38a and passageway 39a effectively subdivide the receiver 31a into a pair of vertically spaced, forwardly or outwardly projecting occlusal and gingival arms 40a and 41a. The upper and lower corners of respective upper and lower arms 40a and 41a are advantageously rounded, as at 35a and 36a for comfort and safety to the patient.

Further, the occlusal and gingival arms 40a and 41a may each be considered as provided with a protuberance, as at 44 and 42a, respectively projecting into the interarrn space defined by the passageway 39a. The protuberances 44 and 42a are advantageously rounded in the forward and rearward direction of passageway 39a, to facilitate snap-engagement therethrough and riding thereover of an edgewise wire 45a. That is, the edgewise wire 45a of rectangular cross section may be moved sideways through the passageway 39a, upon resilient detiection of arms 40a and 41a to open the passageway 39a for snap-engagement therethrough and into conforming reception in the opening 38a, as seen in FIGURES 6 and 7. In this condition, the edgewise wire 45a is held against rotation, as required for practice of the edgewise technique, while being readily removable and replaceable by reversal and repetition of the abovedescribed procedure. In normal conditions of use, the protuberances 42a and 44 extend into the space between arms 40a and 41a to provide detents releasably retaining the wire 45a in its proper operative condition, and permits in many instances, if desired, the elimination of ligating wires.

It is also within the purview of this invention to afiix the bracket 10 directly to the tooth thereby permitting elimination of receptacle 10 and band 12. In this embodiment of the invention, the bracket may be affixed directly to the tooth by means of an adhesive such as an alphacyanoacrylate, polyurethane, or epoxy adhesives, etc. After the bracket has been positioned firmly on the tooth by the adhesives, the wire 45 may be snapped into the bracket as previously described and held in place in many instances without ligatures.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides an orthodontic appliance which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

What is claimed is:

1. In an orthodontic appliance, the combination comprising a bracket plate of stiff resilient material adapted for attachment to a tooth in facing relation with the labial side thereof, a receiver lug of stiff resilient material integral with and projecting outwardly from said bracket plate away from the associated tooth, said receiver lug being provided with a laterally extending through opening for receiving a wire and having a passageway extending outwardly from and coextensive with said opening for passing a wire into and out of said opening, said opening and passageway subdividing said lug into vertically spaced outwardly projecting gingival and occlusal arms, and a rigidifying structure connecting said bracket plate to at least one of said arms, said passageway having a vertical dimension smaller than the thickness of the wire, whereby the wire may be held in said opening without ligating by passing the wire through the passageway into the opening.

2. An orthodontic appliance according to claim l, said rigidifying structure comprising gusset means extending integrally from said one arm laterally and inwardly to said bracket plate.

3. An orthodontic appliance according to claim 1, said opening being of generally rectangular cross section for conforming reception of an edgewise wire.

4. An orthodontic appliance according to clairn 3, in combination with a protuberance on at least the other of said arms extending integral therefrom into the interarm space to dene said smaller vertical dimension of said passageway.

5. An orthodontic appliance according to claim 3, said protuberance being rounded for snap riding thereover of an edgewise wire.

6. An orthodontic appliance comprising in combination a bracket adapted for attachment to a tooth on the labial side thereof, a receiver projecting outwardly from said bracket away from the associated tooth, said receiver being provided with a laterally extending through opening for receiving a wire, said receiver having a passageway extending outwardly from and coextensive with said opening for passing a wire sideways into and out of said opening, resilient detent means projecting into said passageway for releasably retaining a wire in said opening without ligating, said bracket comprising a generally flat plate in facing relation with the labial side of the associated tooth, and said receiver comprising a lug of resilient deectable material projecting outwardly from said plate, said opening and passageway subdividing said lug into spaced outwardly projecting gingival and occlusal arms, said detent means comprising a protuberance on at least one of said arms extending into the interarm space and resiliently yieldable for snap engagement thereby of a wire, and a receptacle adapted for attachment t0 a tooth to receive said plate, said receptacle comprising a generally flat base, retaining flanges on the gingival and opposite side edges of said base, and a stop on the occlusal edge of said base, whereby said plate is slidable over said stop and beneath said flanges for retention on said base.

7. An orthodontic appliance according to claim 6, said gingival tlange and occlusal stop having opposed cutouts, and said plate having a passageway in alignment with said cutouts when on said base, for extension through said plate passageway and cutouts of a ligating wire', uprighting tool, or the like.

8. An orthodontic receptacle for attachment to a tooth to receive a bracket plate, said receptacle comprising a generally tlat base, retaining flanges on the gingival and opposite side edges of said base, and a stop on the occlusal edge of said base, whereby a bracket plate is slidable over said stop and beneath said llanges for retention on said base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,991,047 2/1935 Boyd 32m-14 2,236,042 3/1941 Terwilliger 32-14 2,908,974 l0/ 1959 Stifter 32-14 3,052,027 9/ 1962 Wallshein 32--14 .3,089,242 5/ 1963 Weissman 32-5 ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examiner 

